Package



May 1o, 1938. 1 ADLER 2,116,652

' PACKAGE Filed oct. 5. 1935 /NVE/YTOE. I. Eo n A P1. a- E,

Patented May v10, 19,38

UNITED STATES.

PATENT olf-FICE 13 calms.

Comparatively few products are sold in bulk, at retail, but upon the contrary, are packaged, in cartons, wrappers, or other types of containers. The merchandiser does not care to overlook the opportunity for calling the attention of` the purchaser of the packaged commodity, to the fact that other products are procurable fromhim, or be may wish to give directions for use of the commodity sold or otherwise assist the purchaser to most advantageously 'use the commodity. This end is attained mainly through leaiiets, or other printed matter inserted within the carton as packed;

Manufacturers may also wish to pack a small quantity of fiavoring, coloring, or any other sort of solid, liquid, o r paste together with the commodlty packaged, or perhaps enclose a coupon together therewith. The most common manner of so packingthe small object with the larger or main object is by inserting the former into the carton together with the latter, or by retaining the smaller to the outside of the carton by wrapping or by securement of one kind or another. Through failure of the packaging machinery, or through subsequent handling, the insert is sometimes lost before it reaches the ultimate consumer. j

One of the principal objects of myv invention is to provide a unit package in which the main commodity and the auxiliary object will be so packd that there will be a minimum of possibility of loss or displacement of the latter between the time of packaging andv nal sale, the auxiliary object being retained within a definite area of the carton enclosing the .main object and visible at all times Without opening the package, so that only the most cursory of .inspections is, needed to determine whether or not the-auxiliaryv object is positively in its desired cooperative relationship with the carton.

Another of the objects of this invention is to so constructa package wherein the main object may be enclosed,A and the auxiliary object Amay be retained against movement relatively of the 7 carton walls.

An added object of my invention is to provide a package of the' kind described, in which interlocking means are engageable with one another, to prevent the accidental opening of the carbon during the various handling transactions.

A further object of the invention is to provide such interlocking means that will in addition, cooperate with the auxiliary object to maintain the latter in itsl position with the packed unit.

A still further object of my invention is to (Cl. 20G-47) make a carton having any or all of the above features, in such a manner that it. will entail substantially noaddit'ional expense inthe manufacture or in the packaging.

Many other objects andV advantages of the 5 package herein shown and described, will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, from the disclosures herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel 10 construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, as will be more A particularly pointed out in theclaims.

In the drawing, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts 15 throughout the views,

Figure 1 is a plan view of the carton blank, ready for folding; l

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one end of the package substantially closed;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of said end of the package when entirely closed thereat; and

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view, taken substantially along the'line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Referring 'more particularly to the drawing, 25 wherein I have illustrated one of theY preferred embodiments of my invention, A indicates a unit quantity ofmaterial of any kind or characteristic, and in this instance in the shape of a block orv prism. Many products are-packaged in this man- 30 ner, as for example, `butter,.lard, shortening, or

.other edible commodities, although it is to be distinctly'understood that this invention is not limited to the packaging of edible commodities.

B indicates a small object which is either to 35 be used in connection with the main object A, as by intermixing, coating. or otherwise, or may have no particular reference thereto, as perhaps a sample of another product, or it may be a leaflet, premium, coupon or any one of a thousand 40 other things. As shown, this auxiliary object is in the form of a rather thin, hexagonal envelope, transparentfon its upper or visible surface so that its contents are visible when so positioned.

The carton is preferably made of cardboard or other suitable inexpensive material, of the thickness and characteristics most suitable to the intended commodity to be" packaged, and ofsuchv a size and shape to just about enclose the main 50 object A. 4

This blank is died out to form the various walls, flaps, projections and cut-outs necessary, after which it is folded along the various score lines marked thereon. In this instance, the main object A to be packaged, is in the shape of a block or prism and hence the carton is to be so shaped and designed to be folded into substantially the same form.

I'he blank is provided with the parallel score lines I, 2 and 3, and in this instance with the fourth score line 4, to mark olf the pairs of side walls 5 5 and 6 6 respectively, the side walls s of each pair being opposed to one another when shaped into the box as shown. 'I'he extension 1 outwardly beyond the score line 4 is intended to be folded into the carton against the inside surface of the free edge ofthe other outermost side wall 5.

The portion 'I may be provided with longitudinallyextending iiaps 8 at either or b oth ends, although only one such ap is shown in this instance, and the flaps 9 I0 may be provided as longitudinal extensions of the side walls 5 5, the iiaps 9 I0 at each end being adapted to be folded toward one another and partially overlap prior to the folding over of the 'end wall of the l carton.

The end walls II extend longitudinally of the side wall panels 6 6, these end walls extending in mutually opposite directions. Extending longitudinallybeyond the end walls are the flaps I2, the line of juncture of said end walls and their attached flaps being indicated at the line of fold II3, the distance between said line I3 and the adjacent line of fold to the side wall 6 being substantially the distance between the pair of opposed side walls 6 6 when folded into the enclosure shape.

One or more slits or apertures, as for example, the pair of spaced apertures Il ll may be pro- :vided on the end walls. substantially along its said line of juncture with the flaps I2, as by dieing out the lugs I5 I5 at said portions, so that when the carton is folded thereat and the iiaps I2 inserted into the adjacent end of the carton, the spaced lugs will`substantially abut against the adjacent free edge of the side wall of the carton and limit further insertion of the end v4wall.

These lugs, and consequently the apertures4 formed as a consequence thereof, may lbe dovetailed in shape, the mutually adjacent side edges of said lugs converging toward their free edges farthest from the carton.

To cooperate with the .apertures H Il, the naps 9 and I0 may be provided with lugs I 6 I6, so that when the said flaps 9 and I0 at each end of the carton arefolded toward one another and the end wall of the carton folded thereover and the naps I2 inserted beneath the adjacent edges of the carton, the lugs I6 I6 spaced apart at each end of the carton will snap into thecorresponding pair of apertures Il ll and thus interlock said ends with their Icorresponding adjacent pair of side flaps. 'Ihese lugs I6 may also be formed into dovetailed shape, as shown, so as to minimize their possibility of slipping out of their interlocked positions.

.A In. addition, slight extensions lI may be proj vided'to extend laterally beyond one or both Vof the side edges vof the flapsl I2, and preferably a score line I8 provided to define this extension, so that as the flaps I2 are inserted over the upper `edges of the flaps 9 IIJ the slight'extensions I1 will be bent downwardly inasmuch as the distance between vthe vlaterally outermost edges of the tabs or extensions I 1 I'I are greater than the distance between the opposed -side walls 5 5 measured vthereat. Therefore, inasmuch as the closest adjacent wall 6 of the vof the carton.

An additional interlock may be formed by cutting back the free edges ofthe side walls 6 that engage the insert flap I2, to form the cut-outs 20-20, one such cut-out to receive each of the lugs I5 and its cooperating lug I6. Where there are a pair of such lugs I5-I5 on the carton end, there will of course be a pair of such cut-outs 2li-20 at the adjacent free edge ofthe side wall 6 of the carton. spaced apart the proper distance to receive the cooperating spaced lugs I5 I5. Preferably; the lateral bounding edges of these cut-outs 20-20, are made dovetailed with the rear edge of said cut-outs, so that when said lugs I6--I5 and the lugs I6 I6 are moved into the same there will be frictional contact between the said lateral bounding edges of said cut-outs with their mating lugs to prevent accidental opening movement of the parts to which said lugs i are attached.

vA window such as thepermanent opening 2I may be provided through one of the walls of the carton, such as for example, through one of the 'side vwalls 6, and preferably intermediate the bounding edges of the same and through which visual inspection," may be had to determine whether or not the auxiliary object B is actually within the package.

'I'hese auxiliary objects are of' course much smaller than the main objects packed within the carton, and in this instance may be of hexagonal whether or not said miniature object is actually within the unit package without unwrapping the latter, provision is made for so retaining said object in a desired relationship `with the container so that it will not shift to one side completely out of vision through the window.

'I'he lugslI5-I5 or the lugs I6 I6, or both of these sets together, act as a barrier or abutment to prevent the object B from shifting or sliding,

out of the package therepast, this being especial- ,ly true when the object B is of the polygonal shape shown, so that thespaced lugs will receive the corner of said object therebetween. Further, the'dovetailed shape of the lugs will {nterl lock with said cornerof the object to further assist in preventing accidental opening of the end closures of the package.

To limit the movement of the auxiliary object in the opposite direction, a tongue 22 may be provided through the wall of the carton in 'which the opening 2I is made, said tongue being sufi'lciently therebeyond so that when the auxiliary object is in its .intended relationship with the package one edge of the said object may be re ceived through the slit formed by thrusting said tongue interiorly of the carton. Obviously, this` y 2,1 lasse interlock of the slit with an edge of the object B will limit movement of the latter therebeyond. Even if a slight shifting shouldoccur, the object B immediately beneath said opening or window will not shift suiiiciently laterally to move entirely out of sight.

If for. any reason it is thought desirable to pack said auxiliary'object against one of the ends of said main object instead of at one of the sides 'as just described, or to even package an additional auxiliary object into the unit, such as B',

said end wall may be provided with a sight opening 23 similar to the opening 2l, and where the end flaps 9 and I0 are employed the latter are similarly provided with openings 24 to register with said opening 23 when the carton is closed.

Hence, when the object B' is placed in position against the end of the mainV object A, and the aps 9--I0 and the adjacent end wall Il moved to closed position, the auxiliary objectB' will be frictionally held in place between said main` object and the adjacent carton surface and be visible through said sight opening 23-24. Even though some lateral shifting of said object B" might occur, yet it will not be suicient to throw said object beyond the limits of said sight opening, and hence only visual inspection is necessary to determine whether or not such object B' is actually Vwithin the closed carton.

No extraneous fasteners are used for holding the auxiliary object or objects within its predetermined area of movement laterally within the carton, and all of the various lugs and cut-outs are made in the dieing operation when forming the carton blank; hence the cost of forming this improved carton is substantially no greater than if these features were omitted, nor is the cost of packaging itselfincreased to any material extent, if at all. i

-What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A package adapted to enclose a main object and receive an auxiliary object o a much smaller sizea wall of said package having a permanent opening therethrough of a size smaller than said auxiliary object and through which the latter packed in said package may be viewed from without, a slit through said wall adjacent said opening to receive an edge of said auxiliary object, and an end iiap on said package insertable into the latter beneath said auxiliary object to push the latter toward said apertured wall.

2,. In combination, a carton foldable to substantially the same size as a main object enclosed therein, an auxiliary object insertable between said rst object and an adjacent wall. a window through said Wall directly over said auxiliary object andthrough which the latter is visible.

within the carton, and means on said carton movable into position upon closure of said ycarton to provide a limit stop engageable with said auxiliary object to limit movement of the latter object relatively of said window.

and an auxiliary object and provided with side and end walls, the latter having iiaps extending for insertion into the cartonbeneath theA adjacent side walls, andmeans on one of said ,pair of cooperating side and end walls for retaining said auxiliary object therebetween, comprising a tongue on one side wall of said pair of walls to receive an edge of said auxiliary object, and a pair of spaced lugs on the other wall of said pair of walls at substantially the line of juncture of said flap therewith.

5. A carton having side and end walls, and means to retain an object in place within said carton, comprising a slit through one of said side walls to receive an edge of said object, and a pair of spaced lugs on an end wall in a plane transverse to and projecting past said side wall and converging toward their free ends to engage the opposite edge of said object therebetween against movement outwardly of the carton therepast.

6. A carton having side and end walls, one of said side walls having an end ap folded transversely and provided with a lug, an end wall having a ap joined thereto Ato overlie said lug for insertion within saidcarton and provided with a slot at substantially the line of juncture o1' said end wall and Hap to receive said lug and interlock therewith.

7. A prism carton one of the side walls of which is provided with a flap folded transversely toward the opposed side wall and having a dovetail-shaped lug at an edge, the adjacent end wall of said carton provided with a flap extension to be folded within said carton to overlie said lug and provided with a notch at said line of fold to receive said lug and interlock therewith.

8, A carton provided with a pair of opposed side walls and an end wall, one of said side walls having a flap foldable across an open end of said carton, and said end wall having its free end of La width to pass between said pair of opposed side walls when said end is inserted into said carton over said ap, and widened rearwardly of said free end so as to bend downwardly from its initial position of insertion to substantially parallel with said side walls and interlock with a free edge of said iiap upon progressive insertion of said free end of said end wall into said carton.

9. A carton foldable to form a prism with side walls and end walls, one -f said side walls having a flap extension foldable transversely toward the opposed side wall, the adjacent end wall having a ap foldable into the carton past said side wall flap, and a side lug on the side edge of said end flap and extending beyond the plane oi' said side wall so as to be inserted into the carton in substantially the plane of said said end tiap and thence foldedinwardly and downwardly as the end nap is progressively inserted into the carton, said side lug thereby interlocking against the inner surface of the side wall ap.

10. A carton for enclosing a main object and an auxiliary object, comprising enclosing walls 'one of which is provided with means for interlocking engagement with said auxiliary object. and another of said walls provided with a closure ap for insertion into said carton to engage said auxiliary object and press it against said wall having said interlocking means thereon.

11. A cartoncomprising enclosing walls one of which is provided with a slit therethrough for interlocking engagement with one edge of an object inserted into said carton from an open end, and

a movable closure wall having a flap for' insertion into said carton for pressing another edge of said object against said slitted wall to retain it in place a point spaced peripherally vfrom said first point of edge engagement and press said slit.

13. In an article of manufacture adapted to removably retain an object associated therewith, a wall having a slit therethrough for interlocking engagement with an edge.of said object, and a second wall having a portion movable toward said first wall to frictionally engage and press said lsaid object into object into the space between said portion andv the first wall element at a point spaced from said interlocked edge in the slit and hold said object thereat While said edge of therlatter remains interlocked in said slit.

LEON ADLER. 

